FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth
District will join boating professionals and boating enthusiasts to
heighten awareness of different life jacket types, including inflatable life
jackets, and demonstrate their comfort and versatility by wearing them to work
during “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work
Day”, Friday, May 20, 2016.
The
annual event, hosted by the National Safe Boating Council serves as a fun,
educational element just prior to National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, the
official launch of the 2016 North American Safe Boating Campaign. Educating the
boating public about the safety and comfort of life jackets has been a main
focus of the North American Safe Boating Campaign.
The
Fort Worth District and National Safe Boating Council is asking all
participants to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work
and post it to the Ready, Set, Wear It! Facebook page (facebook.com/readysetwearit) and Fort Worth District
Facebook page (facebook.com/usacefortworth) using
#readysetwearit #wearitFortWorth.
U.S.
Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in
approximately 68% of recreational boating fatalities in 2014, and that
approximately 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Members
of the boating public as well as those interested in showing the wearability of
life jackets are encouraged to participate. More information about the event
and safe boating is available at facebook.com/readysetwearit.
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About
the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources
development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military
installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico. Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Facebook at: facebook.com/usacefortworth
Release no. 16-030